Focus On Lighting Photos Focus on the Fundamentals.pdf

Modifier 1: A mirror
Having the flash built into
the camera certainly doesn’t
mean we have to keep it there.
Even if the flash is built into
the camera, we can move its
effective location, and we can
do that ourselves without a team
of electronic and mechanical
engineers. Here’s how.
We need a mirror to move the
light to where we want it to be.
We angle a mirror in front of the
camera flash so the light bounces
from this mirror to where we
point it. This allows us to put the
light almost anywhere we want
it. (In fact, we could put the light
absolutely anywhere we want it,
but that would require a series
of mirrors, light bouncing from
one to another. After reflecting
from all of those mirrors, the
light would be about as bright
as a candle in a coal mine! We
wouldn’t try that.)
What sort of mirror do we use?
Anything we have handy, but
here’s a good way to make
a simple, lightweight, safe,
unbreakable one. First, get a
sheet of silver Mylar film. (Mylar
is a DuPont brand name and the
product may be available under
Silver reflector
different names where you live.)
Compared to other photographic
equipment, it’s cheaper than dirt;
buy a little more than you need.
You’ll use it again.
Now glue some of the Mylar to
a thin, stiff board and cut it to
approximately the area the flash
will illuminate. At such a close
distance, this will certainly be less
than 3 by 5 inches and may be
much smaller than that.
Position the reflector in front
of your flash. How do you
hold it there? You can hold it
in your hand or clamp it to a
Silver reflector
White reflector Black background
light stand. Or you can attach
it directly to your camera with
a glob of what we call “blue
glue,” which won’t damage
your camera. (Blue glue,
originally designed to seal
refrigerator gaskets, has been
since marketed under many
brand names as a way for
parents to temporarily put
up their children’s art without
damaging the wall.) “Blue glue”
is photographer slang for a
product available under several
brand names in many hardware
and crafts-supply stores; your
store clerk may have never
There’s More Than <strong>On</strong>e Way to Get Things Done
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